3.2" Plesiosaur Fossil Vertebrae Cretaceous Dinosaur Era Morocco Zarafasaura COA
Location: Khouribga, Morocco
Weight: 7.2 Ounces
Dimensions: 3.2 Inches Long, 2.2 Inches Wide, 1.6 Inches Thick
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The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Plesiosaur Zarafasaura
Zarafasaura oceanis is a long-necked elasmosaurid marine reptile from the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 72–66 million years ago, measuring around 23 feet (7 meters) in length. Its genus name merges the Arabic Aarafa (“giraffe”) with the Greek saurus (“lizard”), while the species name translates to “daughter of the sea.” Described in 2011 by Dr. Peggy Vincent and her team at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, Zarafasaura is known from partial skull fossils discovered in Morocco. Related marine reptiles include Plesiosaurus, a genus within the broader Plesiosauriae family, which lived in marine environments from 228 million to 61.6 million years ago and was carnivorous. With 938 documented specimens, Plesiosaurus is one of the most well-represented plesiosaurs, though artistic depictions often do not distinguish it from other genera and are heavily influenced by Loch Ness Monster mythology.
Please be aware of the nature of fossils:
Being buried under the ground for millions of years under tons of pressure tends to be rough. No fossil comes out of the ground whole and perfect. Most fossils have undergone some restoration, while others are altered by man simply to enhance their presentation in different ways. The workers in Morocco do a very professional job of unearthing and preserving these natural treasures; however, commonly, natural cracks are visible on the surface. These are part of the natural beauty of the fossil and are not considered defects.
